Wire rope



Nov. 15, 1938. M. w. REED 2,136,866

WIRE ROPE I Filed June 10. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [mm afar:

Nov. 15, 1938.

M. w. REED WIRE HOP-E Filed June 10,1938

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17608725071 flf fiLCOLM A? 50,

Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED S/TATES AT NT-OFFICE" Application June 10,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to Wire ropes or cables and in particular to wire ropes designed for general hoisting purposes.

An object of the present invention is to pro- 5 vide a wire rope in which the wire strands may all be laid into their helical positions in such a way as to provide proper distribution of the load of the rope among the strands, and at the same time provide a construction which will retard 10 or prevent the wire strands from coming ,into

contact with each other while the wire rope is in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rope which, when of a given strength, will bend without excessive stress over sheaves having diameters smaller than are now generally recognized as being proper for good rope usage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rope which has an improved resistance to slippage on sheaves and drums.

Theseand other advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse section of a rope structure embodying the present improvements 25 Figure 2 is a transverse section of a rope structure embodying a further feature of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a transverse section of a rope structure embodying a still further feature of this 30 invention; v

Figure 4 is a further showing of a modified construction, and

Figure 5 is a further showing of a modified construction of Figure 4 in which the cores of the individual ropes are segmental members.

In the drawings, the rope of the present in vention comprises a core upon which the wire strands 2 are helically laid. This core may be of metal, fiber, synthetic chemical compounds, rubber, rubber fabric or a combination of any of these or other substances, which is of a softer or more resilient material than the wire strands 2.

The core is made up of a plurality of sections 3, l and 5 complementing each other to form a circular core member having grooves formed in the periphery thereof to provide acylindrical base 6 and substantially parallel sides 1 adapted to form spacing members 8 integral with the core section's. a. I

The strands 2 may consist of a plurality of individually small wires helically laid upon each other in the conventional manner of making wire rope strands or, if desired, of a plurality of wire ropes 9 each or which consists of a plurality 193 8, Serial N0. 213,095 (Cl. 117--59) of strands l helically laid, in the conventional manner, around a core ll of the same or of different material than the main core formed from the complemental sections 3, 4 and in either case, the material of said core II is softer than 5 the material of the wires I0 forming the strands of the ropes 9.

In the showing in Figure 1, the complemental core sections produce a circular core in which;

the spacing members 8 extend from the center 10 to a point at least as far as the point of normal tangency between the strands 2.

In Figure 2, the spacing members 8 are shown as extending beyond the point of normal tangency of the wire strands 2 or, if desired, the spacing members [may terminate at a point within that indicated by a circle circumscribing the wire strands in their positions in the completed rope, as shown in Figure 3.

' In Figure 4, the spacing members 8 are shown as terminating in normal tangency with. the wire ropes 9. However, if desired, said spacing members may terminate at either a point beyond or at a point within the normal tangency of the wire ropes as similarly shown in Figures 2 and'3 for the wire strands 2.

In the showing in Figure 5, the cable comprises the main core sections 3, 4 and 5 having the spaced members 8 formed integrally therewith and includes the general construction 01 that described with respect to the main coreof the other figures. In this modification, the cores of the individual wire ropes 8 are of identical construction with that of the main core and comprises the complementary sections 3, l and 5 with, the integral spacing members 8 as well as the cylindrical base 6" and the substantially parallel sides I within whichare helically laid the plurality of strands. In this construction, the strands forming the separate rope elements which are positioned within the grooves formed in the main core sections are spaced from each other so that when the cable isv in use they will not come into contact with each other. The 'material from which the segmental core sections 4 3}, 4e and B are formed may be 01' a material similar to that of the main core, and of a softer i or more resilient material than the wire strands forming the individual ropes.

Wire ropes, for general purposes, are usually formed with a core of such substance, size and design that the wire strands, when laid up helically around this core, touch or come close to touching each other. This is considered essential in order that each strand of the rope shall, when in service, take its proper share of the load carried by the rope.

During the working of the rope, the core, in many cases, wears away or compresses to a fur-r ther degree and permits the wire strands to bear more and more tightly against each other. The continued working of a rope under such conditions causes the wires of one strand to wear into the wires of the adjacent strands, with a resultant interlocking which stiilens the entire mechanical construction of the rope, induces earlier fatigue of the wires, and thereby shortens the life and useful service of the wire rope.

However, under the present invention, I have constructed a wire rope which will permit the proper distribution of the load of the rope among the strands, and afford adequate safety factors when used, for example, in elevator installations.

While I have shown and described specific embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A wire rope composed of twisted wire strands and a core provided with means interposed between said wire strands to prevent said wire strands from coming into contact with each other, said core comprising a plurality oi interflttlng sections.

2. A cable comprising a plurality of separate wire ropes helically wound about a main core, said separate wire ropes including a plurality of wire strands wound about individual cores, all of said cores including the main core being provided with means adapted to prevent said wire strands and ropes from coming into contact with each other.

3. A cable comprising a plurality of separate wire ropes helically wound about a main core, said separate wire ropes including a plurality of wire strands wound aboutindividual cores, said cores including said main core being ot'a material softer than the wire ropes or strands and provided with means adapted to prevent said wire ropes and strands from coming into contact with each other, said main core comprising a plurality of interfltting sections.

4. A cable comprising a plurality of separate wire ropes helically wound about a main core, said separate wire ropes including a plurality of wire strands wound about individual cores, all of said cores including the main core being provided with means adapted to prevent said wire strands and ropes from coming into contact with each other MALCOLM W. 

